Explore the latest developments concerning Smith ruled out.
Smith ruled out as Australia make four changes
Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon all return for series decider against South Africa
Steve Smith has been dramatically ruled out of the series-deciding third Test against South Africa with Josh Inglis among four inclusions to Australia's XI in Cape Town.
Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl first on a sunny morning at Newlands with the upheaval in the Australian XI marking the most changes they have made mid-series since their 2018 tour of South Africa.
The morning's theatre played out around an hour before the toss when Smith failed a last-minute fitness test on his troublesome neck.
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Australia have avoided adding another chapter to their history of Cape Town disasters, with Mitchell Starc’s six wickets having South Africa all out for 329 at the end of the first day.
On a chaotic morning at Newlands, Steve Smith first ruled himself out of the series decider with a neck injury before Pat Cummins sent the Proteas in on a straw-coloured pitch under largely blue skies.
South Africa then reached 0-158 with Cummins’ decision heavily criticised, before Starc’s haul led a fightback and the Proteas at one stage lost 5-29 mid-innings.
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Australia give Steve Smith chance to prove fitness ahead of South Africa series decider
Batter aiming for Newlands return after injuring neck in second Test
Australia will give key batter Steve Smith as much time as possible to prove his fitness ahead of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands, captain Pat Cummins said.
Smith injured his neck in South Africa’s innings and 31-run victory in the second Test in Gqeberha which levelled the series at 1-1 going into the decider in Cape Town starting on Tuesday.
“Hopefully, it all goes well and he’ll be there,” Cummins said. “But we just want to wait for that last piece of the puzzle [before naming a team].”
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